Leach debate part 2

I took the liberty of reformatting the quotes for readability. This article originally included a deceptive article posing as Dr. Milazzo's original article which Jerry created to make her look bad. I explain this on Doctoring Documents. FYI, Dr. Milazzo is a transwoman. This article is duplicated as Fair Use. It was originally accessible from his website in July 2007.]

Greetings to you, Dr. M,

Your article concerning "Can Therapy Cure Gender Dysphoria?" displays so
many assumptions and misleading as well as scientifically uninformed
inferences, it seemed at first not worthy of a response. But if I do not
respond, you could then take that to mean that I agree with what you have
said about me personally as well as your grossly inaccurate
misrepresentations of current scientific data. You have followed the
all-too-typical slanderous procedures of the homosexual and transsexual
community's political agenda. Smear tactics are so common in our world
today, aren't they? If you don't agree with someone, do what you can to
discredit him/her while ignoring the substantive and factual matters of
the topic at hand. You who claim to be so inclusive and tolerant end up
revealing your exclusivity and intolerance of anyone else's views than
your own. I'll never forget the brazen declaration of Eric Pollard of the
Act-Up Homosexual Organization in his comments published in The Washington
Blade, a major homosexually oriented newspaper. Remember when he laid out
the working model for the Gay Agenda, where he said, "I and others within
our politically active Gay Rights Group have learned to apply subversive
tactics to accomplish our ends, using any means necessary, drawing our
main tactics and strategy from the voluminous Mein Kampf, which we have
studied thoroughly as our working model."

Anyone who displays intellectual/academic integrity can surely recognize
that you are not really well-versed on the subject at hand, nor are there
signs that you have done your most basic homework on transgenderism. Your
article is rife with innuendo and erroneous conclusions, all of which are
incongruent with the most recently published medical findings. Your first
three sentences sets the premise for the model upon which I and many
others like me base our position that transgender dysphoria is a direct
result of the emotional wounds a person suffers between the ages of birth
and 3 to 5 years. In addition, it is the model upon which we base our
great hope for a better outcome than what you proscribe in your
deterministic, fatalistic approach, using the surgical suite as the
end-all-procedure. Your approach clearly does not ascribe to the
combination of sound psychiatric medicine coupled with dependence upon a
"Higher Power," both of which have credible evidence that steadfastly
undermine your hypothesis. One of our male-to-female transsexual friends,
who had sex change surgery many years ago, and is now in the transition
process of returning to living in their God-given male role, said of your
article:

"Dr. M has a huge vested interest in disqualifying you; just one look at
his website displays his bias and very probable personal reasons that he
would like your name erased from the list of viable contenders or
competition."

Another post-operative male-to-female transsexual exclaimed,

"He makes so many weak comparisons. For example you can say that a common
trait of homosexuals is a bad relationship with their dad ... and even
straight people have that. But we are not talking about groups of people
here; we are talking about individuals. Just because my lack of a father
figure contributed largely to, if not directly responsible for my GID,
does not mean that every boy without a Father figure will end up a
transsexual. If this is what he is trying to use to somehow prove symptoms
of GID, then he is terribly in error! A cough is a symptom of many
illnesses. Just because one has a cough doesn't mean they have lung
cancer. He offers very weak and incomplete, non- scientifically based
arguments. He tries to put down and disqualify your experiences because
you do not have a MD behind your name. Your observations are not gained
from a course of study, but your career training has taken shape out from
your personal battles with the condition. What you have done in the past
has not prepared you for the position you now hold as an International
spokesperson for us; the information you have gleaned from other
professionals in the field has trained you for your counseling position,
not a series of courses at some sterile and politically correct graduate
school. What does one do in order to become a Psychologist? They get their
degree by learning from other people's work. You have done the same thing,
but haven't done it to earn some kind of educational requirement, or
degree. You may not be a certified and credentialed or state licensed
clinical social worker or professional physician – but you have learned so
much in your own personal walk and now pass it on to people like me. The
fact is, you do hold a Master's Degree from a well respected liberal
seminary and are not some uneducated fanatic trying to deceive, or conceal
your own miserable plight by your work. You have and are running the
race...and we get the full benefit as you pass on the baton to us."

Another transgendered person raised objection at your naive assumptions
and dishonest statement given on the first page:

"Many years of experience have shown that therapy and medications cannot
change one's gender identity. As a result, the current accepted treatment
for gender dysphoria is directed toward ways to help one cope with his
stress, and may include cross-gender hormones, part-time or full-time
cross-living, supportive counseling and/or surgical reassignment." This
person simply said, "Is this person awake? Has his bias totally blinded
him to some of the most current medical discoveries which support a longer
and harder look at the transsexual phenomenon, even to the American
Medical Association's consideration of disallowing the afore-recognized
hormonal and surgical treatment as the best modern medicine has to offer?
It is plain. Dr. M is uninformed on what is presently taking shape in the
medical community itself about the whole matter."

Protest to this outrageous smear-tactic by you, Dr. M, against others such
as ourselves who offer hope for restoration is coming into our office
daily. One recent letter, written by a medical research specialist said,

"Unfortunately, the comments which you have received from this physician
are terribly misinformed."

There are two themes running through his paper:

1) That psychotherapy does not reverse or change gender identity or
reverse gender identity dysphoria;

2) A personal attack on the credibility of your own diagnosis as a
transsexual; rather relegating you to the category of a "mere transvestite
fetishistic male."

I shall address both of these below.

Issue 1: "He states ‘many years of experience have shown that therapy and
medications cannot change one's gender identity..." how does one explain
then the increasing numbers of former transsexuals who now claim to be
recovered and free of the condition? Jerry is but one example. Also, "The
crucial question is how effective such treatment may be for others – a
claim which scientific literature to date does not support." For this I
would draw his attention to the documentary last year in which Dr. Kenneth
Zucker, one of the world's most experienced researchers and clinicians in
the area of GID, and currently the chief editor of the prestigious
Archives of Sexual Behavior states: "Psychotherapy can be effective in
treating transsexuals so that they eventually give up their desire for sex
change, even if there was a biological predisposition for it."

Or, you could send him the e-mail you received from Dr. Zucker where he
says that "with GID persons it is just called therapy, NOT reparative
therapy." This research specialist continues, "Since Dr. M provides no
direct references or credible supporting evidence for his terribly
misinformed statements, and resorts to psychodynamic terminology, e.g..,
accuses you of being a victim merely of ‘reaction-formation,' is
unbelievable coming from a supposed professional. Let me provide you with
just a few current scientific references, which indeed show the falseness
of his assertions with regard to scientific and psychotherapeutic success
in reversing and treating Gender Identity Disorder.

She concludes that transsexualism is a narcissistic disorder in which the
constitution of the self has been profoundly impaired and that it is only
since analysis have embarked on the treatment of non-neurotic patients
that the condition has become accessible to psychoanalytic psychotherapy
or indeed psychoanalysis. The difficulties not withstanding, the author
considers that such work is worthwhile and that patients can and do
benefit from it.

This paper reviews reports of GID in which adolescent psychotherapy
patients initially desiring sex reassignment changed their minds following
psychotherapy.

Mosler, T. & Wosheim, H.A. (1995): Transsexualism: An extreme form of
sexual identity disorder. Fortschr.Med.Apr. 10:113 (10):140-143. Recently
there have been reports of successful psychotherapeutic treatment
resulting in the preservation of the original biologically given sex. Also
reports of successful psychotherapeutic treatment of transsexuals.

Sugar, M. (1995) A clinical Approach to Childhood Gender Identity
Disorder: American Journal of Psychotherapy. Spring; 49 (2): 260-281.
A review of gender identity disorder is presented along with a case of a
four-year-old boy. An overview of some of the biological theories of
gender identity disorder directs our attention via the clinical material
to conflict/defense as the most useful. The youngster's cross-gender
behavior, possible contributions to it, treatment issues related to
parental input, boundaries, and transitional objects are considered. The
necessity of close communication, cooperation, and proper guidance to
parents, as well as involving them in individual therapy is stressed.

Loeb, L.R. (1992) Analysis of the transference neurosis in a child with
transsexual symptoms.
Amer. J. Psychoanalysis Vol. 40 (2): 587-605 states My observations, as
reported previously (Loeb & Shane, 1980) and shown in the present case, is
that the transsexual symptom complex can develop out of intrapsychic
conflict and be resolved in a fully developed transference neurosis. As he
came to understand his conflicts the boy's transsexual symptoms vanished.

Pfafflin, F.(1994) Transsexual Defense. Psyche (Stuttg). Sept. - Oct;48
(9-10) 904-931.
The patient's insistence on being acknowledged as a woman is regarded here
as a creative defense connected with inadequate separation and
individuation.

Oppenheimer, A. (1991) The Wish for a Sex Change: A Challenge to
Psychoanalysis? Int.J. Psychoanal.72 (Pt 2):221-231.
On the basis of the author's observations, the determining psychological
factor is stated to be the hatred of masculinity.

Marks, I., Green, R., Mataux-Cols, D. (2000) Adult Gender Disorder Can
Remit. Psychiatry Jul-Aug; 41 (4):273-275.
If evaluated over many years, GID's and paraphilias can be less fixed than
is often thought.

Kersting, A., et.al.(2003) Dissociative Disorders and Traumatic
Experiences in Transsexuals.J.Nerv.Ment.Dis.Mar; 191(3):182-189.
The total score for the dissociative symptoms revealed no significant
differences between the transsexuals and the psychiatric inpatients.
Further investigations are needed to throw more light on the
phenomenological correlation between transsexualism and dissociative
identity disorders, using taxometric analysis.

Issue 2: "This physician states that Jerry Leach may not have had
transsexualism or GID, but rather transvestic fetishism. It seems that
this physician is totally unfamiliar with the concept of "autogynephilia
transsexuals," who probably make up the most of those both pre-op and
post-op. If this person were to read about the sexual arousal and
masturbation in autogynephilia patients/transsexuals, and then read your
book manuscript, Flight Toward Woman, there would not be any
misunderstanding that you would even qualify as a "ego-dystonic
transvestite fetishist." The physician needs to read about the enormous
amount of publications of Ray Blanchard on autoerotic arousal in
transsexuals.

What you are doing, Jerry, is not reparative therapy. It is not
fundamental religious zealotry! It is mainstay psychotherapy, which has
been reported successful with many cases of Gender Dysphoric patients,
although there is tremendous pressure from the social activists to
politicize these things, and make statements about how Sex Change Surgery
is THE ANSWER, in absence of credible or verifiable data to support such
erroneous and broad-sweeping claims. I would ask this Physician, "Have you
read the book, The Gene Illusion: Genetic Research in Psychiatry and
Psychology under the Microscope?" written by Jay Joseph, Psy.D.?" (ISBN
1898059 47 0) Paperback $18.00

Take a quick look at the Table of contents:

Twin Research: Misunderstanding twins from Galton to the 21st Century.
The Twin Method: An environmentally confounded research method.
A Critique of Studies of Twins
The Heritability Concept: A measure of inheritance, or inherently
misleading?
The Genetics of Schizophrenia 1: Overview
The Genetics of Schizophrenia 2: Adoption Studies
Is Criminal Behavior in Genes? Studies of Criminal & Antisocial Behavior
Genetics and IQ
Molecular Genetic Studies in Psychiatry and Psychology: An exercise in
futility?
Where Do We Go From Here?

Description: Jay Joseph's book provides a rebuttal of the evidence cited
in support of popularized genetic theories.
"Far from establishing the importance of genes, this book shows that
family, twin, and adoption studies are plagued by researcher bias, unsound
methodology, and a reliance on unsupported theoretical assumptions.
Furthermore, he demonstrates how this research has been used to support
the interests of those attempting to bolster conservative social and
political agendas."

What are the forces that shape who we are? Or how we live? Or how we act?
Are we shaped by our environment, or by our genes? Increasingly, we are
told that research has confirmed the importance of genetic factors
influencing physical and psychiatric disorders, personality, intelligence,
sexual orientation, criminality, and so on.

Much of the scientific data has been produced by the fields of behavior
genetics and psychiatric genetics. This book looks into other factors than
the traditionally bleak view of humans and their future laid out by those
claiming that heredity is of overriding importance; that human suffering
is not caused by people's genes. Rather, it comes from well-known and
well-documented psychologically traumatic events and environments. This
book is essential reading for anyone seeking an alternative to the
increasingly popular, yet mistaken view that "genes are destiny." So, Dr.
M, in your introduction, you demonstrated a very clear, pre-determined
bias, which does not acknowledge or find any alignment with current
medical viewpoints on transsexuality, better described as Gender Identity
Disorder. (GID) Your opening remarks that "one's core identity is known to
be permanently formed by early childhood ... many years of experience have
shown that therapy and medications cannot change one's gender identity..."
is so out of sync with the times in which we now live.

"Groups such as transsexuals and homosexuals therefore argue that their
biology determines their sexual orientation. This strikes a chord with
many, particularly sympathetic Christians. This is a modern argument since
only fifty years ago over 90% of homosexuals believed that they were not
born that way, while in today's world, most transsexuals think that their
longing for sex change is innate, biologically derived and unchangeable -
a standpoint that is known as ‘determinism.'"

Whitehead adds, "Biologists discarded behavioral determinism decades ago,
yet politicians and activists still cling to this theory ...while
transsexuals and homosexuals argue that studies have shown that their
brain microstructure is more feminine ... " the most unequivocal evidence
is that structures are produced by long-continued behavior. It is known
that the brain changes physically in response to our behavior ...
transsexual brain differences are therefore more likely to be the result
of transsexual behavior, rather than its cause."

Whitehead concludes, saying, "Behavior genetics, for all its faults, has
established that all behaviors are a mixture of genes, family environment,
unique circumstances, and individual choice. No one forces us into a given
behavior. So, is it possible to change? Definitely..."

An academic Psychiatrist in the United Kingdom, has stated (August 02):
"In the case of transsexualism, there is no consensus amongst clinicians
about the effectiveness of psychological treatments but there is evidence
that, in a proportion at least, their perceived quality of life may be
improved by cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Surgery and prolonged
hormonal manipulation involves numerous and painful interventions
reflecting an extraordinary level of conviction. But commitment and
conviction is a feature of many psychiatric conditions in which
individuals hold the beliefs that do not fit the facts.

The degree of conviction with which a conviction is held should not
determine its validity."

Further, a Specialist Registrar in Forensic Psychotherapy, in the United
Kingdom has written on transsexuality, saying: "Recently the Royal Society
of Medicine organized a one day conference devoted into the thinking of
the future planning of treatment resources for transsexual patients.
(Sexual Health and Reproductive Medicine Section: April 02). "During this
day there was a distinct scarcity of any attempts at psychological
understanding of these individuals or helping to understand themselves of
to treat the conflict in any other way other than surgically. Other than
the group which I run I know of no other form of psychoanalytical based
psychotherapy group clinicians in the U.K. offering a forum for such
patients to understand themselves. Instead, there seems to be an abundance
of interest in achieving a fine tuning of surgical procedures in the hope
that this will offer a ‘long term solution' to these patient's problems.
Our extensive collected experience in working with these patients and
attempting to understand their transsexual conflict has proved that there
is no simple, unified aetiology for this condition and we feel that a
single treatment approach, especially one involving little or no
psychological input is of great concern."

Dr. M, we transsexuals together think you might better spend your time and
energies seeking a more informed understanding of transgendered persons;
encouraging and supporting those who feel personal purpose in not aligning
with the traditionally accepted cultural views which offer only one
recourse, surgical intervention. Society changes its' mind on anything;
facts do not! Truly, the transgendered individual is among the most
misunderstood and personally maligned minority in our world. That is the
very reason we offer a compassionate alternative to what is today the
"one-fits-all-mentality" of those who should know better. Of course, we
also include the very missing spiritual dynamic of today's so-called
experts, stating that with the help of our ‘Higher Power' we can find,
along with the much needed professional psychotherapy, a resolution to the
emotional turmoil within referred to as Gender Identity Disorder. Surely,
you do not claim that your article or outdated treatment plan offered
decades ago by Dr. Harry Benjamin is the best or only alternative in our
modern age, do you? If you do, it is then clear that you need to do some
more serious homework. Just the few references cited in this response
should cause you to pause and more carefully reflect on your
non-scientifically based conclusions.

I look forward to hearing about your new discoveries as you apply yourself
to the task of updating yourself in the recent and current literature of
the times in which we live. It is quite apparent to me that you have much
more than a professionally-focused interest in this subject. Reflected in
your words is an obvious personal pain and search for your own Truth. I am
here to address that pain ... and offer the help that you and others like
us despair of really being available. Thank you so much for asking me to
respond to this article. Perhaps what I have said herein will have
prevented you from inevitable embarrassment. I sincerely hope so. But more
than that, I want you to know that I am eager to come alongside of you in
your journey towards wholeness, if you should decide to obtain help.